SAHEL WEATHER AND CROP SITUATION REPORT

BURKINA FASO :

Crops are generally developing satisfactorily. Following first significant rains in early April in the south and south-west, precipitation progressed northwards over the entire country in May and remained generally widespread and abundant. Although it decreased somewhat in mid June, soil moisture is generally adequate for crops. Cumulative rainfall as of late June was above average in most meteorological stations. Coarse grain crops are generally in the tillering/leafing stages in the Sudanian zone and emerging in the Sahelian zone. Planting is almost complete in the north and in the Sahelian zone.

Pastures have started to regenerate. No pest activity is reported. Seed availability is generally adequate following the 2002 record harvest. Seeds were distributed to returnees and refugees from C?te d'Ivoire under an FAO Emergency Agricultural Assistance Project.

Satellite Images (Cold Cloud Duration for the last three dekads)

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CAP-VERT :

The growing season is now well established in the agricultural zones. Following first rains in mid-April, the rainy season actually started in late May in the Sudanian zone. Precipitation progressed northwards to the Sahelian zone in June and planting of coarse grains is now underway. Recently planted millet and sorghum are generally growing satisfactorily in the Sudanian zone.

Pastures are regenerating. Grasshopper and army worm attacks are reported. Although small-scale breeding of Desert Locusts is expected to occur in the north, their number should remain below threatening levels.

Satellite Images (Cold Cloud Duration for the last three dekads)

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GAMBIE :

The growing season has started. The first rains were registered during the first dekad of June and permitted land preparation and first plantings. Precipitation decreased somewhat during the second dekad but rains covered the entire country during the third dekad and became abundant in early July. Plantings are well underway. Seed shortages are likely following the 2002 poor harvest.

Satellite Images (Cold Cloud Duration for the last three dekads)

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GUINEE-BISSAU :

The growing season has started. Although first rains were registered in early May, the rainy season actually started over the entire country in early June. Coarse grain crops are emerging/tillering in the east and the north. Land preparation and plantings of rainfed rice are underway. Transplanting of swamp rice from seedbeds will take place in July/August after desalination of swamp rice fields.

Localised insect attacks have been reported, notably in the east.

Satellite Images (Cold Cloud Duration for the last three dekads)

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MALI :

Adequate rains so far have facilitated plantings and crop development in most regions. Following first rains in the extreme south in April, precipitation progressed northwards in May and remained generally widespread and regular in June, except in the western Kayes region where rainfall decreased significantly in late June. Plantings of millet and sorghum are well underway; crops are emerging in the south.

Pastures are improving, notably in the south. Grasshopper attacks were reported in late June in several areas. Grain eating birds are reported in the Office du Niger zone. Low numbers of Desert Locusts are present and will persist in the Adrar des Iforas. Small scale breeding is likely to occur in areas of recent rainfall.

As recommanded by the National Early Warning System, subsidized sales of 8 000 tonnes of animal feed by the Government helped to arrest the deterioration in livestock condition caused by poor pastures.

Satellite Images (Cold Cloud Duration for the last three dekads)

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MAURITANIA :

First rains in June allowed plantings in some areas.Significant rains in the south and south-east in mid-June permitted land preparation and planting to start in Brakna, Gorgol, Hodh El Chargui and Guidimakha. Cumulative rainfall as of late June was above average in most meteorological stations, notably in the south-east, and satellite imagery indicates that rains increased in early July.

The pest situation is mostly calm. However, isolated adults of Desert Locust are likely to be present in the south, but no significant developments are likely.

Distributions of emergency food aid and subsidized sales of wheat helped improve the food supply situation in Aftout, the Senegal River Valley and the central plateau area of Hodh El Chargui and Hodh El Gharbi where near-famine conditions and high malnutrition rates and related diseases were previously reported.

Satellite Images (Cold Cloud Duration for the last three dekads)

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NIGER :

The rainy season is now well established. Following first rains in the extreme south-west in early April, the weather remained mostly dry until the third dekad of May, when rains progressed northwards in the south-west, allowing land preparation and first plantings to start. Precipitation was abundant and widespread in June and cumulative rainfall as of late June was above average in most meteorological stations. It is estimated that over 93 percent of villages had finished their plantings by late June, compared to about 60 percent last year. Crops are emerging and already tillering/leafing in Dosso and Zinder departments.

Scattered adults of Desert Locusts were present and maturing during June in northwestern Air near Arlit, in the southern Air near Agadez and further south in Tadress. Small-scale breeding is likely to occur in areas of recent rainfall in the Air and Tadress. Grasshopper attacks have been reported in several areas.

Subsidized sales of 12 000 tonnes of cereals and 2 000 tonnes of animal feeds helped improve access to food for poor households as well as livestock condition affected by limited availability of pastures.

Satellite Images (Cold Cloud Duration for the last three dekads)

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SENEGAL :

Rains reached the south and centre in June. Following early rains in the extreme south-east in May, rains progressed in June towards the southwest and the centre. Mostly dry conditions still prevailed in the north in late June. Plantings of coarse grains are underway in the south and the centre. Crops are emerging satisfactorily in the south.

Pastures are starting to regenerate in the south and centre. The pest situation is mostly calm despite reports of grasshopper attacks in K¨¦dougou region.

In response to the tight food situation following the poor 2002 harvest, the Government distributed about 54 000 tonnes of rice to rural households in 2002, and has just launched a new assistance programme including the distribution of 50 000 tonnes of rice and 13 000 tonnes of animal feed, as well as subsidized sales of maize and groundnut seeds, which are also being distributed under an FAO project.

Satellite Images (Cold Cloud Duration for the last three dekads)

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The first map indicates the total rainfall amount from 1st to 30th June. Data is extracted from FAO field reports and the RainFall Estimate (RFE) Satellite Imagery as produced by NOAA/USGS/FEWS/USAID project. The RFE images are obtained by interpolating various parameters recorded on the ground and obtained through remote sensing measurements such as: rainfall, relative humidity, wind speed, elevation, cold cloud temperatures.

The map below shows the estimated planting time (opportunity) as defined by the dekad (10-day) satisfying the following requisites: 25 mm of rainfall during the first dekad and a total rainfall of at least 20 mm during the two next dekads. Data used for this analysis are from FAO field reports and RFE imagery.

Data source: NOAA, FAO - Prepared by: FAO/SDRN, Agrometeorology Group

SOURCES:

This is the second GIEWS report on the 2003 season on weather and crop conditions in the Sahelian countries of western Africa. Geographical coverage of these reports includes the nine CILSS (Permanent Inter-State Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel) member states: Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Chad, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal. Reports are issued each month from June to November. The final report for 2003 with the first production estimates will be issued in late-November

These reports are prepared with data from, and in close collaboration with, FAO Representatives, the Agro-Meteorology Group and the Environmental Monitoring Group (SDRN), the Emergency Centre for Locust Operations (ECLO), the Emergency Operations Service (TCEO), the World Food Programme (WFP), as well as various Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s). In this report, satellite imagery provided by FAO/ARTEMIS, field data on rainfall, FAO agro-meteorological crop monitoring field reports and information provided by FAO Representatives up to 30 June have been utilized. The satellite images of the first dekad of June has also been utilized for final updating.